Well-documented information is the structural underpinning of Timebomb, and often saves Reichman and Tanne from sounding xenophic and just plain silly sometimes. In the preface, a conversation with a middle-class editor at a publishing house who had contracted tuberculosis but rejected this book feeling that there was no real market for it, Reichman states, “this middle-class woman had just taken a skin test which meant she had been infected with TB and she was essentially telling us that only poor people and minorities get it. “(preface)
Whether or not a reader would jump to that conclusion is unclear, but nothing that is quoted from the editor seems to say that. Instead, Reichman betrays and reveals himself. Instead of leaving ethnicity, race, and homeland an issue, the authors seem of two minds about this book. They often sound classist; “Even the wealthy were exposed because they employed the poor....”(p.32) and still worse, factual statements mixed in with unsubstantiated stereotypes such as, “In 1901, 37% of Dublin’s housing consisted of a single room...(which had five occupants. (substantiated) Alcoholism... made the situation even direr.” (unsubstantiatedP. 22)
There can be no doubt that tuberculosis and it’s uglier cousin, MDR-TB, is a serious worldwide problem: over 1/3 of the earths population is infected with latent tuberculosis. Given this, Timebomb serves an important function by relaying statistics, TB hot-spots, and other important information. Perhaps more importantly , Reichman has also tried to standardize the treatment. Despite the personal jab in the preface and some stereotypes here - Timebomb should do well as continuing press coverage on this issue brings it more to the front.
Note: articles by and about Reichman have appeared in the New York Times, Newsweek and other publications. He is also well-known and liked by Congressmen, Lung Associations, Former Secy. of Social Services Donna Shalala.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Good God, woman, you are squirting excellent posts from your every orifice
2 - srp
took another job and left where i was working and have some time inbetween jobs, then off to paris, so lots of writing. but so glad you like... ta Eric - rock on.
sade